Thursday, January 13, 2011

The Definition of a Zombie

Before we ask any questions it is important to define exactly what a zombie is so that our answers can be more scientific. Traditionally, a zombie is deceased human that has somehow become reanimated. Movies such as Dawn of The Dead use this type of zombie. However zombies differ greatly from movie to movie. In some cases zombies move slowly, in other cases they move with super human speed. Zombies generally lack most higher cognitive functions however there are some instances in which zombies can use technology. In recent films such as 28 Days Later and Zombieland, zombies are humans that have become "undead" because of a virus. This differs from the traditional zombie because they go straight from human to zombie; they never die. So is a zombie dead, or alive? Does it matter when they are attacking you? YES IT DOES.

But we must wonder about the nature of this virus. A virus is a simple, essentially lifeless bit of DNA and protein. The proteins that encase the DNA, once they eject their DNA, become prions, which have been known to have malignant effects on the human form. We must question what exactly this virus will do to the subject. Will it simply deteriorate the human mind and body? Or will it do something more to the body, such as change the nature of cells in the human body?

To keep things constant in this blog we will be using a zombie prototype. For our purposes a zombie is a human that has become undead due to a virus. These zombies are slow-moving, lack higher cognitive function, and crave flesh. The virus attacks their nervous system making them aggressive, inhuman, and animal-like, no matter how it affects the body. Because zombies are still able to move and eat it can be assumed that their organ systems are relatively unaffected, which implies that they have a beating heart and blood flow (organs need blood flow to function.) However, it can also be assumed that zombies cannot create new cells which is why they begin to fall apart in many movies (limbs fall off, wounds do not heal, etc.)

With that in mind, we will now begin to ask, research, and answer questions we have always wondered about zombies. If you have a burning question about zombies feel free to ask.

1 comment:

  1. very interesting, and i agree that you have to put some ground rules down for what you see as a "zombie" but i would liek to interject taht im many modernday movies, zombies may move very slow but seem to have great spurts of energy all of the sudden able to sprint very fast or climb walls with ease. Another thing would be that somties zombies appear to be able to move limbs when they fall off so a zombie arm that is cut off might still grab someone. I would also like to drop a hypothises on this saying that by "resident evil" with is a zombie virus video game/movie series, that its more of a parasite than a virus, able to take control of the being with its own brain, and this is why we see arms moving even without the body. Plus zombies don't have brains to move their arms when their attached anyway.

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